European maps

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Ben, Dec 3, 2007.

  1. Ben

    Ben Guest

    I need maps of France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Italy for
    planning my road-trip next year.

    Who makes the best ones? And what scale would be good for finding
    decent biking roads? 1:50000 a bit overkill?
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #1
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  2. Ben

    ginge Guest

    I always use the Michelin ones.
     
    ginge, Dec 3, 2007
    #2
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  3. Ben

    antonye Guest

    maps.google.co.uk
     
    antonye, Dec 3, 2007
    #3
  4. Ben

    M J Carley Guest

    I used this one:

    http://www.philips-maps.co.uk/index.php?nID=product&id=10&ISBN=9780540088904

    As for finding decent biking roads, in Italy I just looked for roads
    that connected where I was to where I wanted to go and crossed open
    country. If they were also marked as `scenic' that pretty much
    guaranteed it. If I get around to it, I might list the good ones I
    found.
     
    M J Carley, Dec 3, 2007
    #4
  5. Ben

    platypus Guest

    When I'm travelling, I'll normally carry a small-scale map for the whole
    country[1] and medium-large scale maps for the areas I'm going to be
    visiting[2]. Only if I was going to be staying in the one place for, say, a
    week, would I acquire a really large scale map[3].

    [1]Eg the 1:1,136,400 Brittany Ferries freebie map of France
    [2]Eg Michelin 1:200,000 or AA/IGN 1:180,000
    [3]Eg IGN 1:25,000
     
    platypus, Dec 3, 2007
    #5
  6. Ben

    TOG@Toil Guest

    Michelin. No argument.
     
    TOG@Toil, Dec 3, 2007
    #6
  7. Ben

    Ben Guest

    It's not as much fun as spreading maps all over the living room floor
    and using a marker pen to plan.

    To keep the IT side up, the route will be put into a Garmin Zumo 550
    for the trip.
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #7
  8. Ben

    Ben Guest

    That's two for the tubby white bloke.
    Well, I don't mind buying lots of maps to make up one country. I like
    collecting maps and already have pretty much all of the UK at 1:25k OS
    so covering Europe will be fun.

    BTW, can you send me details of that villa you got near Mugello in
    2001?
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #8
  9. Ben

    Ben Guest

    Michelin it is then.
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #9
  10. Ben

    Timo Geusch Guest

    I'd have to give that a delayed AOL as well.
     
    Timo Geusch, Dec 3, 2007
    #10
  11. Ben

    Ofnuts Guest

    1) Michelin
    2) 1/100000 is enough. The roads you could miss may no be that nice for
    bikes (gravel, animals and animal droppings, agricultural machinery...)
    3) Looks for those with a green lining, or with > or >> symbols, of that
    cross many contour lines.
     
    Ofnuts, Dec 3, 2007
    #11
  12. Ben

    Ben Guest

    Thanks
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #12
  13. Ben

    wessie Guest

    Michelin, as others say. I like the ones that used to have a yellow
    cover but seem to have orange ones in the updated version.
    e.g. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516n06EXrJL._AA240_.jpg
    or http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410WVRM1P4L._AA240_.jpg
    These seem to be about 1:200000

    Apparantly you can get the whole French series in a ring bound book
    now. I've not seen one yet but it has been recommended to me.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/France-Mich...pd_bxgy_b_img_b?ie=UTF8&qid=1196694120&sr=1-1

    I like the sheets listed above, especially if you are using an Alpha
    Baglux tankbag. The sheets are not too bulky and you can fold them
    so that a decent section of the countryside is visible through the
    map holder.

    I've used similar Michelin maps in Italy & Austria. No idea about
    Belgium or Switzerland.
     
    wessie, Dec 3, 2007
    #13
  14. Ben

    Ben Guest

    I'd appreciate it. We're going to the GP so need somewhere to stay
    for the weekend.
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #14
  15. Ben

    platypus Guest

    platypus, Dec 3, 2007
    #15
  16. Ben

    Ben Guest

    Yes, and no. My brother, a mate of his and me.
     
    Ben, Dec 3, 2007
    #16
  17. Ben

    ginge Guest

    The villa might be a bit big....
     
    ginge, Dec 3, 2007
    #17
  18. Ben

    Colin Irvine Guest

    That's what we use - got rid of the spiral binding and just take the
    pages we need for each trip. We still have a few of the 1:200,000
    maps, but they seem to have stopped doing them.
     
    Colin Irvine, Dec 3, 2007
    #18
  19. Ben

    wessie Guest

    See my post above - the have replaced the yellow ones with 5xx orange ones.
    Slightly larger scale 1:275000 but just as useable for bike touring. Most
    branches of Waterstones seem to stock the whole set. As the French have
    built a lot of new roads in the last decade the yellow ones are getting a
    bit out of date.
     
    wessie, Dec 3, 2007
    #19
  20. Ben

    ginge Guest

    I see where this is going..

    ...and it'd be rude if there were only a couple of people on 10R's..
     
    ginge, Dec 3, 2007
    #20
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